Illness Threatens Florida's Bee Colonies

A mysterious illness has killed tens of thousands of honeybee colonies in 22 states nationwide including Florida.

The unidentified disease is akin to a fungus according to Dave Hackenberg who owns apiaries in Florida and Pennsylvania.

In the past few months, the Dade City beekeeper has lost 2000 hives, nearly two-thirds of his Florida bees.

HACKENBERG: The problem is we don't know what's spurring this. We don't know what might make it happen again or where it's going to happen next.

The disease is called Colony Collapse Disorder. The bees simply disappear - not returning to their hives says Hackenberg.

Bees are critical for pollination of Florida's 15-billion dollar crop industry.